DEER RESISTANT HEDGES

Cherry-Laurels are a tried and true deer-proof hedge. All three of our types – English (Prunus laurocerasus), Schip (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’), and Portuguese (Prunus lusitanica) – are totally unattractive to deer. It might be the smell, taste, or tough texture of the leaves, or possibly a combination of factors. We don’t really care what it is, honestly, just knowing that it works is enough for us.

Virescens Western Red Cedar

Virescens Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata ‘Virescens’) is native to the western coast & widely used deer resistant shrubs in the United States. No one really knows why, but deer completely leave it alone. It is very similar to the American Arborvitae of the east coast, which deer devour, so it seems like they should eat this one, too. All we can say is “they don’t.”

Green Giant Arborvitae

Green Giant Arborvitae is a hybrid between Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) and Japanese Arborvitae (Thuja standishii). It seems to have inherited extreme deer-resistance from its Western Red Cedar parent, because they don’t touch this one either. It grows fast, which is another bonus since it can quickly become a tall enough hedge to discourage them from trying to leap over it or go through it. Also, Discover more hedges. One of the best deer resistant shrubs to be considered.

Teton Firethorn

Teton Firethorn (Pyracantha ‘Teton’), as the name suggests, is covered in long, sharp thorns. Deer seem to look past the thorns on roses, but rose thorns seem fleshy and soft when compared with those of the Firethorn. They are sharp. They grow quickly, too, so they make a great fence to keep deer out of the whole garden.

European Beech

European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is not a deer-favorite. In summer, the leaves are a bit tough and leathery, and there are lots of other and more desirable options to choose from. In winter, when other options are limited, the beech has only bare branches and dry, crunchy leaves. Not exactly a choice salad.

Flame Amur Maple

Flame Amur Maple (Acer ginnala ‘Flame’), much like the European beech, is simply not in leaf when the deer are hungry enough to consider it during the winter months. When the leaves are more succulent, the deer have tastier things to choose from.

Royal Star Magnolia

Royal Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’) has thick, leathery leaves in the summer but only bare branches in winter. The flower buds are very fuzzy in spring, which is a texture that deer tend to dislike.

They generally ignore it.

Wichita Blue Juniper

Wichita Blue Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Wichita Blue’) has a strong aroma and somewhat prickly foliage, which is unappealing to most deer. This is an especially good choice for cold, mountainous regions where deer are plentiful and hungry.